I have been playing videogames all my life. I don't so much anymore, but I do still have a special place for them in my life. They transcend what we think as media, bringing the user's thoughts and emotions into another world in ways traditional media probably never will. I feel sorry for those who do not understand what videogames have become. While many videogames are still 'games', there is an ever growing number of games that have a deeper meaning. One example of this is Six Days in Fallujah. See the video below for more on that.
The blog the producers of this movie is here.
I don't know if we are covering this in class or not, I hope we do.
-Chris L
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An excellent find. This video has real meaning to me because I am a videogamer. I am sick and tired of people who scream that videogames cause this and that, when they have little to no evidence of such a correlation. "EA=electronic anti-christ"? really? The ignorance of these people astounds me. I also agree with the points that the video made, that the industry needs grow a pair and stand up for what they make. We need to take videogaming to the next level.
ReplyDelete-Dan Meyer
I agree with Dan. The industry is being blamed for violence among young kids, but the games are not technically marketed towards kids, especially the violent ones. That is the whole point of the rating system, to keep the games out of the kids reach. After that, it becomes the parents responsibility to monitor their kids and make sure they aren't playing a game they shouldn't. The games are marketed for people old enough, and mature enough to distinguish between a simulation and reality.
ReplyDeleteAdding to our discussion in class today, the makers of Six days in Fallujah the game makers did try to make it as realistic as possible. If you shoot a civilian or a friendly you instantly lose. Also a game being released this week, Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2 features a segment where you play as a terrorist. You are in an airport and you basically gun down civilians, the game makers say they have that in there to make hate terrorists. They allow the player to skip this portion but no one will. Im pro video games but these developers are just being dicks and taking it too far.
ReplyDeleteLink to the video:
https://mymail.clarkson.edu/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://video.aol.com/video-detail/modern-warfare-2-life-of-a-terrorist/3716157636/?icid=VIDLRVVID05
J Ellis
This did create a good discussion in class today, and I'm glad Professor Dullea decided to discuss this entry. I agree, the rating board is there to to give a heads up to maturity of content in order to keep the games out of hands of those not meant for it. Yes, it will stop kids from directly purchasing certain ones, but there are those parents or older friends or siblings who will buy those games for those underage. Even if your kids aren't allowed to have them in the house, maybe their friends are and they get to play them there. Either way, if the kids get them or not, it is the parents or guardians responsibilty to teach their kids the difference between a game and reality. I agree with Lee, the games are geared towards people old and mature enough to distinguish gameplay and reality so it's not the gaming industry's fault. Yes, many kids that are immature for certain games will get ahold of them or be exposed to them even by commercials of game trailers, but it then lies in the hands of the parents to teach their children that difference between a game a reality.
ReplyDeleteI agree completely that it is the parent’s responsibility for their kids. Video games alone will never lead to violence. Whenever video games have been blamed for some sort of violence there are other contributing factors that have led to it. Also it is regular to point the finger at something new that isn't completely understood for causing the violence. Different genres of music have taken the blame for similar occurrences in the past. Violent movies could also take the blame.
ReplyDeleteActually committing these acts is not the same thing as simulating them. Even though the simulations are becoming more realistic, if you were in these situations in reality your emotional response and feelings would be much different. If someone playing these games didn’t realize that they were fake and completely immoral to actually do, there is something else wrong. This leads right back to the parents or something else in their life.
Finally I agree with what someone mentioned during our discussion in class; interest in playing violent video games may be an effect of their personality and who they are, not a cause of it.